A review by taylasfootnotes
The Wraith King by Juliette Cross

dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

✨ The Wraith King 🗡️ by Juliette Cross 

This was my most anticipated release of 2024 and, by the Gods, it did not disappoint. From the romance, the bantering, and the world building, I was left yearning for more! 

Una Hartstone, a highborn Princess of Issos, finds herself at the mercy of tyrannical king of her enemy. Determined to fight, Una is saved by Gollaya Verbane, the tyrant kings son who had been in hiding. 

It doesn’t take Una long to realise this is the second time Gollaya has saved her, and now he’s come to collect his favour. With a strange plague sweeping across her kingdom, Una agrees to the terms of a treaty that would see the stoppage of blood being spilt on both sides. 

Resigned to her fate, Una is resolved in focusing on figuring out how to save her people for a foreign kings castle, while staving off the feelings she’s beginning to feel for the dark King, Gollaya. 

Not is all as it seems within the castle of Näkt Mir. Stirrings of unrest creep within the shadows as tales of other peculiar things occurring over the board of neighbouring courts. It’s up to Una and Gollaya to see an ancient prophecy come to fruition, even if it could spell heartbreak for them both.

Cross’s writing is poetic, the world building rich and paced well. The characters felt fully fledged, with emotional intelligence and critical thinking. My only minor complaint is there was a lot to accomplish in 450 pages, and at times wished that we could have spent longer on certain events, especially in act III. 

Overall, I gave this read 4•5 ⭐️ 

Ps. The teaser of book two at the end has me BEYOND excited to delve deeper into this world and the other cultures of the creatures and courts of this fabulous world.